Home Improvement Remodeling: Install Shutters

If you want to give your home a facelift but have limited carpentry skills, installing shutters can be a great home improvement remodeling project. Shutters can raise your home value, add to your home’s curb appeal and finish off the look of your house. With some simple tools and a little bit of time and effort you can install shutters to your home. Follow these directions to install shutters on vinyl siding. 

What You Need

• Measuring tape
• Sawhorse
• Drill and drill bits

Installing the Shutters

Step 1: Measure your Windows – take measurements of the windows you would like to install the shutters on. Write down this information and bring it with you to your local home improvement store. Work with a sales person to determine the best size for your windows and select a color and style that you want. Depending on your selection, the store may have to special order your shutters.

Step 2: Mark the Location – hold the shutter in place in the center of the side rails, about 3 to 5 inches from the top. Mark where the top screws should go, being sure to place them near the bottom of the lapped vinyl siding allowing the screw more material to anchor to. Measure and mark the same distance from the bottom of the shutter. Additional screws may be necessary for long shutters. If so, be sure to make them an equidistant interval from the top and bottom.

Step 3: Drill the Holes in the Shutters – Place the shutter on the sawhorse and drill 3/16 inch holes into the shutter where you marked it.

Step 4: Drill the Holes in the Siding – Hold the drilled shutters against the vinyl siding and drill the holes just enough to make pilot holes in the vinyl siding. Take the shutter down and drill 1/8 inch pilot holes about 2 ½ inches deep into the siding.

Step 5: Affix the Shutter – Hold the shutter back in its place and screw it into position, making the screws flush with the shutter’s surface. Some shutters include screw caps that match the color of the shutter and snap over the screw head. If your shutters came with screw caps, install them now. If the cap will not stay in place, turn the screw back about a half of a turn and try again.

Step 6: Repeat – complete this process for the shutter on the other side of the window and then all of the shutters on your house.